Top 10 Diet Mistakes

You figure as long as you’re on some sort of diet, that it must be the key to weight loss. Sorry to burst your bubble, but that can be wrong! If your clothes are getting too tight or you can’t keep the pounds off, it’s probably because you are making the diet mistakes that bring you right back to square one. Here are the biggest diet mistakes to avoid at all costs.

1. Crash Diets. They help you lose pounds fast by eating practically nothing. Eventually, you’ll have to eat again. And when you do, those lost pounds will come back, and you might even gain more! When you eat less, your metabolism slows down. When you begin to eat regularly again, your metabolism works at a slower rate, which causes the weight gain.

2. Skipping Breakfast. It’s truly the most important meal of the day. Without it, you can become more hungry, leading to unplanned or overeating. Eating breakfasts with high protein and fiber can keep you fuller longer throughout the day, while keeping your blood sugar stable.

3. Sneaky Snack Attacks. It can be hard counting calories every time you eat. But people who don’t pay any attention can forget about the snacks that are in front of them and forget that they add up. A few handfuls later, every day, can cause a major impact on your calorie count. Quit the mindless munching—it can sabotage your hard work.

4. Never Snacking. Thoughtful snacking is the key to loosing inches. Several small meals and healthy snacks keep your hunger levels maintained, while keeping your metabolism at a steady pace. Try snacks with high protein such as nuts.

5. Low-Fat Overload. They can make or break you—but don’t go overboard. Low-fat doesn’t mean low-calorie. You shouldn’t ever take more than one serving. Always check the nutritional label for specifics.

6. Drinking Calories. It’s easy to forget that drinks have calories too. Stay away from coffee, alcohol, juice, and sodas. Some have more than 500 calories. To make matters worse, liquid calories don’t fulfill your hunger, so you’ll consume more calories after a drink.

7. Not Drinking Enough Water. The best drink is water. It keeps us hydrated and burns calories. Dehydration slows down the metabolism process and can stop weight loss. Rule to live by: Drink eight or more glasses of water each day to burn more calories.

8. Ditching Dairy. Don’t completely shun milk, cheese, and ice cream! Although they’re given a bad reputation, research shows that the body burns more fat when it has enough calcium and produces more fat when it’s calcium deprived. Unfortunately calcium supplements don’t do the same as nutrient rich foods. Try nonfat or low-fat dairy foods.

9. Drive-Thru Disasters. The number one rule for diets is to stay away from fast food. Although it’s quick and easy, the items are loaded with alarmingly high amounts of calories, fats, and sugars. You’re also tempted to eat more food and more often.

10. Unrealistic Goals. Being overcritical can lead to disaster. The last thing you want to do is set yourself up for failure. Realistic goals are important for a healthy and successful diet plan. Talk to your physician or dietitian for appropriate diet goals for your body type and lifestyle.

11. Weighing Yourself Daily. It doesn’t help your situation or make you lose weight faster. It’s best to stick to long term goals like weekly or biweekly weigh-ins to check on yourself. You’ll feel more motivated when you see progress and stop micromanaging yourself.

Dieting the wrong way can actually keep you from losing weight and staying healthy. Make sure to keep everything in moderation and try eating a balanced diet of healthy, organic foods as much as possible. Create a personal diet that works for you!